Compulsory attendance laws are school authorities' first assault on parental rights. These laws force almost forty-five million children to sit in often boring classes six to eight hours a day for twelve years. Compulsory attendance laws force parents to hand over their children to state employees called teachers, principals, and administrators, whose competence they must take on faith.
Compulsory attendance laws show contempt for parents' rights because they are based on the notion that the state owns our children for twelve years, and that parents should have little say in the matter.
In effect, these laws allow state officials to legally kidnap millions of children, allegedly to benefit the children by giving them an education (in the opinion of these officials). "Kidnap" may seem like a harsh word, yet wouldn't you apply that word to someone who took your child by force against your will?
Unfortunately, most parents voluntarily send their kids to the local public school. These parents believe they are doing the right thing or have no alternative, so they might not believe that school authorities kidnap their kids. However, millions of other parents are so disgusted with public schools that they either homeschool their kids or send them to private schools.
Every year, school authorities and social service agencies harass or threaten hundreds of home-schooling parents who remove their child from public school. If parents refuse to send their child to the local public school, and do not strictly follow a state's home-schooling regulations, school authorities can file child abuse or neglect charges against the parent. They can then call in social service agencies that threaten parents with jail or threaten to take away their children and put them in foster homes.
The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) claims to represent "approximately 365 home-schooling families a year who are wrongly charged of some form of child abuse or neglect" because they chose not to comply with compulsory attendance laws.
School authorities' harassment of home-schoolers reveals the nasty compulsion underlying our public schools. Thankfully, parents in this country have the right to homeschool their children. For their children's sake, parents should take advantage of this right.
Joel Turtel is an education policy analyst, and author of "Public Schools, Public Menace: How Public Schools Lie To Parents and Betray Our Children." Contact Information: Website: http://www.mykidsdeservebetter.com, Email: http://www.mykidsdeservebetter.com, Phone: 718-447-7348. Article Copyrighted ? 2005 by Joel Turtel. NOTE: You may post this Article on another website only if you set up a hyperlink to Joel Turtel's email address and website URL, http://www.mykidsdeservebetter.com
licensed cleaning services Park Ridge ..Q. Our 17-year-old son wants us to let his girlfriend... Read More
Single parenting has seemingly become an acceptable norm which is... Read More
The question I have for you drives right to the... Read More
Most people with children want to be good parents. The... Read More
Imagine you were the principal of the school that your... Read More
In the last 20 years we've all been introduced to... Read More
One of the questions I ask in parenting presentations is... Read More
I am sure that this list can be jogged and... Read More
A fun way to build your child's imaginationWriting is still... Read More
It's no surprise that the self-image and self-esteem of overweight... Read More
Your child's teacher says that you need to find out... Read More
The disquieting behavior of teenagers in the 21st century, is... Read More
Are you feeling overwhelmed being a parent? Do you want... Read More
There are few thoughts as terrifying as the abduction of... Read More
Summer Survival The... Read More
How would you like to have a closer relationship with... Read More
As I sit here and reflect on the past two... Read More
John Bishop's Goal Setting for Students.comLegacy to Your ChildrenIt's 6:30... Read More
Now I know that is not how the song goes,... Read More
Parents looking for a quick fix usually choose troubled teen... Read More
The wonderful adaptability of children in dealing with the challenges... Read More
In dealing with children with autism spectrum disorders, its all... Read More
Teenagers are a work-in-progress, and parenting teenagers can be tricky... Read More
In the first premise, some films and video tapes which... Read More
In the wonderment of childhood, it is easier for a... Read More
on demand house cleaning Arlington Heights ..It can be said that any man who procreates is... Read More
Reading to your child at a young age is one... Read More
In a single dose of children's television, I was bombarded... Read More
Raising a pre-teen or teenage daughter (or son) is not... Read More
A common problem many times facing parents is Colic. Estimates... Read More
Gift shops are a kid magnet and often a trip... Read More
I'll never forget my first lesson in a glider.I'd been... Read More
In stepfamilies, big holiday expectations can lead to big disappointment--and... Read More
"Do not think that love, in order to be genuine,... Read More
In the last 20 years we've all been introduced to... Read More
"The best blush to use is laughter: It put roses... Read More
To have reasonable expectations of our children is an important... Read More
Last night Tom's daughter, Sue, came out of her room... Read More
Sex has a lot to answer for ? babies usually... Read More
As a parent there are lots of things that you... Read More
Choosing to leave your child with a caregiver is one... Read More
One reason public schools get away with educational failure, year... Read More
Do you really want your child to enjoy playing with... Read More
I have three children, ages 19 and 16 (yes, the... Read More
Blink. That's all we did, blink, and summer is ending... Read More
The choices are mind numbing. Walk into any toy store... Read More
There are many things to like about the television show... Read More
Do you live with an ADD / ADHD child? If... Read More
So you want to be a mum? Every time you... Read More
"Family Matters" was the headline that caught my attention in... Read More
Parenting |